Tag Archives: under 21 DUI Georgia

What happens if you’re under 21 and get a DUI?

Friday, 20 September 2013 11:18

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When you hear of someone receiving a driving under the influence (DUI) charge, you may automatically assume that the person is over the age of 21. While DUI may be commonly associated with individuals over the legal drinking age, it is important to note that if you are under 21 and unable to legally drink, you are not exempt from charges associated with DUI.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol is the most frequently abused substance among today’s youth with over 4,700 annual deaths related to underage drunk driving. In Georgia, those over 21 found driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent is considered DUI and at a minimum can face fines, jail time, suspended license, community service and possible probation. For underage drinkers, the BAC is much lower with penalties that are different than for those over the legal drinking age. Anyone under the age of 21 driving with a registered BAC level of .02 percent can be cited for a DUI.
The penalties associated with an under 21 DUI depends on your BAC level. For those who register below .08 percent on the state’s breath test, a fine must be paid, your driver’s license is suspended for six months with no limited permit and you must complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service. If you register above .08 percent, a minimum jail sentence of 24 hours must be served, you will lose your license for a full year with no limited permit, must complete a 40 hour minimum of community service as well as pay a fine up to $1,000.
If you are suspected of DUI and are under the legal drinking age, it is important to remember the 4 simple rules for underage drivers: be polite, never admit to the number of drinks consumed, do not submit to field sobriety tests and refuse the required chemical test as one drink could put you over the legal limit. If you are arrested for under 21 DUI in Georgia, it is imperative that you hire an experienced DUI and traffic lawyer with a high success rate on contested cases to represent you.
With over 30 years of practice experience, attorney Mickey Roberts has success defending his DUI clients and is recognized by judges and peers as a leading DUI Defense lawyer in the State of Georgia. If you require legal representation for under 21 DUI or any other traffic offense, contact MRGADUI attorney today. Be sure to follow MrGaDUI on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for more information on Georgia traffic laws.

The Federal Transportation Bill signed into law last month brings with it $46 million for state incentive grants to fortify distracted-driving programs over the next two years as well as $27 million for states that adopt safety standards like graduated licensing programs and prohibiting cell phone usage while driving.
Teen drivers in Atlanta would be the group most directly influenced by a change to our existing state graduated drivers’ license programs. Currently, in agreement with the standards set forth by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, teen drivers must be at least 15 years old to obtain their drivers’ permit. As well, new drivers must log at least 40 hours of practice driving, 6 of which must be completed at night before they are eligible to take the written and field driving tests to obtain a Georgia drivers’ license. Once they have their license, teens may not carry any passengers for the first six months, no more than one passenger under the age of 21 for the second six months, and no more than three passengers in the car at one time until the driver reaches 18.
While Georgia hasn’t made any official announcements about changes to the current cell phone and driving laws or teen driving laws, some safety group representatives are optimistic about the potential of the new Federal funds, “We know that new drivers have more crashes than more experienced ones,” says John Ulczycki, group vice president at the National Safety Council.
As a father who has defended clients charged with traffic violations in Atlanta for more than 30 years, I understand firsthand the long lasting effects teen driving violations like speeding, reckless driving, and under 21 DUI can have on a young person’s adult life. Be sure to continue reading my blog and connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest teen driving law updates.

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The above information is intended to help educate members of the Georgia motoring public as to their rights under the law and to assist presumptively innocent citizens in properly asserting those rights. Information within this site should not be misconstrued as legal advice.